Cellulose pad machine



April 1, 1952- c. G. JOA

CELLULOSE PAD MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14, 1950 Imnentor(Ittqtnegs A ril 1, 1952 c, G, JOA 2,591,359

CELLULOSE PAD MACHINE I illiili 3nventor wzr 4 J04 attornegs April 1,1952 c. G. JOA 2,591,359

' CELLULOSE PAD MACHINE Filed June 14, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 3m entorCum 5 (/04 (Ittotnegs April 1, 1952 c. G. JOA

CELLULOSE PAD MACHINE 7 sheets sheei 4 Filed June 14, 1950 Zhwentor can4 J04 (Ittornegs c. G. JOA 2,591,359

CELLULOSE PAD MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 A ril 1, 1952 Filed June 14, 19506 Q2 FM attqrnega April 1, 1952" c. G.VJOA

CELLULOSE PAD MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 14, 1950 Z'mnentorGttornegs c. G. JOA 2,591,359

CELLULOSE PAD MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 MJMJM April 1, 1952 Filed June14, 1950 (Ittornegs Patented Apr. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECELLULOSE PAD MACHINE Curt G. J oa, Sheboygan Falls, Wis.

Application June 14, 1950, Serial No. 168,045

30 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in cellulose pad machines.

Many products require pads of cellulosic tissue built up in multiplelaminations and having different lateral and longitudinal dimensions, soas to fit equipment with which they are used. More particularly statedtherefor, my invention relates to a machine for building up a pad ofcellulosic tissue with a selected number of plies of tissue and to cutand deliver an adjustably selected size of pad.

Cellulose material is marketed in bulk in the form of relatively looselyrolled sheets of tissue from which a number of plies may be unrolledsimultaneously, but the several laminations thus unrolled have verylittle tensile strength and, like filmy textile material, are not formsustaining so as to retain a web shape unless the web is supported atrelatively closely spaced intervals. The rolls from which thelaminations of tissue are removed are diificult to support upon amandrel and it is diflicult to maintain them in a rotative movement uponsuch a mandrel at the correct speed to feed the web from the supplyroll. The usual number of plies of tissue to be unrolled at a givenspeed of rotation of the supply roll do not provide sufiicient 'tensilestrength to make it practical to supply the power for the unrollingoperation by pulling on the laminated tissue itself. Therefore, one ofthe important features in connection with my invention is the provisionof means for withdrawing tissue from the supply roll so as to meet theproblems above referred to.

The objects of my invention are: To provide a machine to support a bulksupply roll of cellulose tissue, rotate the supply roll without theprovision of a mandrel and without placing destructive tensile stressesupon the tissue, and support the withdrawn web of tissue in such a wayas to maintain its web shape; to provide a multiple of web feedingmachines, each adapted to feed a web of material having little formsustaining and tensile strength; to accumulate the output of a webfeeding machine and stitch the laminations into a pad forming belt; tosever a belt into predetermined sizes of cellulosic tissue pads; todeliver and to segregate individual pads-much of the web and laminationhandling mechanism of my machine having as its object to sustain,tension, and deliver material of the character described without havinga web or pad forming material collapse or be misaligned at intermediatestages in the handling of the material apparatus.

A further and important object of my invention is to provide a machineto receive in center- 2 less support a roll of web material to be fedfrom the roll, and to feed the web from the roll with a minimum ofstrain placed upon the web.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing at the extreme right my belt severingand pad delivering mechanism and showing two units of my web handling,stitching and delivering mechanisms for delivery of multiple weblaminations to the belt severing mechanisms.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of one of the roll and web handlingunits shown at the left in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective showing a web stitchingapparatus forming part ofone of the units shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the belt severing and pad handling anddelivery apparatus shown at the right in Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is a section on line 'l--'l of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 to 13 inclusive are diagrammatic plan views showing successivepositions of three sets of retractable material supporting plates in thepath of material travel as the pads leave the belt severing apparatusadjacent the output end of my pad machine, each of said Figs. 8 to 13inclusive having a corresponding view 8a to I3a respective:- ly, showinga section corresponding to the plan view with which it is associated,the section lines in each instance being indicated upon the plan v1ew.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of my compression bar conveyor chain andshowing in end elevation a floating and non-floating compression baraccording to my invention.

Fig. 15 is a section on line l5l5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 15a is a section longitudinal of a bar Ill and showing in section arail in position to force the bar into engagement with its opposed barI00.

Fig. 16 is a section on line l6l6 of Fig. 7.

Figs. 1'7, 18 and 19 are elevations of the cams for the actuation of theplates shown in Figs. 8 to 13 inclusive, the angularity of each cam withrespect to a starting position being shown so as to indicate the timingof the respective pairs of plates.

Fig. 20 is a section on line 20-20 of Fig. 16.

Like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughoutthe several views.

In the following specification it may be understood that the materialhandled by the machine embodying my invention may be any form oftextile-like or fabric web, but I shall herein refer to a web ofcellulose tissue, such as is commonly used to make up absorbent pads forcatamenial bandages, diaper pads, filter pads and the like. The web maybe a single thickness of cellulose tissue, but ordinarily such tissue iscommercially produced in the form of a roll of laminated web havingseveral thicknesses of tissue.

Furthermore in the following specification I shall refer to the factthat in my machine superimposed webs are. stitched together. By this Imeans that the various laminations are bound together by the pressuretreatment along or adjacent Y a margin, and by reason of the pressuretreatment the fibers of cellulose tisue in the various plies are bondedtogether.

Also, in the following description it will be seen that my machineaccumulates superposed webs which coincide as to their lateral marginsand take the appearance of a belt which is the term by which I shallrefer to them.

As shown in Fig. 1 my cellulose pad machine includes a series ofsubstantially identical web feeding and stitching units, A, B, etc. insuflicient number so as to make up a belt of adequate thickness, andfinally, a severing and delivering unit C.

A web feeding and stitching unit such as A in Fig. 1 is shown in detailin Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive as will now be described.

The raw material to be acted upon comprises the roll 25 which rests in avalley formed by two sets of V belts, one set of these belts comprises agroup of four belts 26 supported and guided by pulleys on an upper idlershaft 21, and a lower valley shaft 28; the other group of belts, threein number, is shown at 29. They are considerably longer than the beltsshown at 26 and they have their pulleys on the valley shaft 28; on webguide shaft 36, on stitching drum 3| and tightener shaft 32. The variousshafts are supported in frame work 35 provided with legs 36 and in theframe work 31 supported on legs 38. The frame work 35 is sufficientlywide so that any length of roll 25 of raw material within the capacityof the machine may be supported in the valley of belts 26 and 29 and maybe positioned there by side plates 46 and 4| secured in place by spacedmountings 42, 43, 44 and 45. Thus as the belts 26 and 29 move abouttheir respective pulleys, the web 56. is progressively unwound from theroll, guided and supported over the belts 29, over the stitching drum 3|and under a web laying roll 5| so that it may slidably advance uponpolished tray 52 as it is fed under the succeeding units B to the unitC.

As the web 50 is conveyed to the stitching drum along the approximatelyhorizontal upper reaches of the belts 29, the web is pressed firmlyagainst the belts 29 by stripping belts 53. These belts 53 are providedin the same number as belts 29 and are similarly spaced upon pulleys 54and 55 mounted respectively on stripper pulley shafts 56 and 51 carriedby suitable bushings 58, forming part of frame 31. Supported by thissame frame 31 is a stitching shaft 60, but the stitching shaft isfloated in adjustable bearing blocks 6|. As shown in Fig. 4 the bearingblocks are guided in the frame 31 and are thrust downwardly by stitchingroll adjusting screws 62.

The stitching roll assembly shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 4 and 5includes bearing cone collars 63 and 64 adjustably positionable alongthe shaft 66 and releasably fixed in place by set screws 65. Upon eachof these bearing cone collars is a stitching collar 66 and a groovedfriction drive collar 6'l-the two collars 66' and 61 being securedtogether. The stitching collar has a serrated periphery of such diameterthat it is positioned to bear with considerable pressure against the webon the drum. In the groove of the grooved friction collar 61 is atightly fitted V belt 68 so gauged as to size that it may bear upon thesurface of the stitching drum laterally of the web 50, and thus impartrotative motion from the stitching drum to the stitching roll. Thereforeas web 50 is fed from rolled material 25 to be supported and carriedover the pulleys on web guide shaft 30 it passes on belts 29 over thestitching drum 3|, but as it passes over the stitching drum, stitchingcollar 66 bears upon the web 50 to impress it against the compressiondrum as shown in Fig.5, thus stitching or welding the several plies oftissue together so that the web 56 in its progress toward and throughthe unit C remains as a ribbon without any marginal tendency of theplies of tissue to separate.

Since the pressure applied by the teeth on the edge of the stitchingcollars 66 is considerable there is some tendency of the material of theweb to lift at the trailing zone of contact. It is for this reason thatI provide stripping belts 53 which strip the material from the serratededges of the stitching collars, and the web may thereafter freelyconform to and then leave the stitching drum and pass downwardly underthe web laying roll 5|.

The machine units A, B, etc., derive their power for the rotation ofpulleys, drum, belts and shafts from a line shaft 16 extending parallelwith the various units and supported in bearings H (see Fig. 3). To thisline shaft, a cross shaft 12 for each unit is connected by miter gears13 and 14. A belt 15 connects the unit cross shaft 12 to jack shaft 16.Power from-jack shaft 16 is in turn imparted to stitching drum 3| bymeans of chain (see Figs. 2 and 3). A chain 18 connects the cross shaft12 to a sprocket 19 on shaft 80. Also mounted on shaft is a spur gear 8|meshing with a spur gear 82 on cross shaft 83. Cross shaft 83 in turncarries pulley 84 which connects by means of a V belt to a pulley 55 onstripper power shaft 51. From this stripper power shaft 51 V belts 53derive their motivation through the pulleys 55.

Pulleys for the sets of belts 26 and 29 are fixed on shaft 28,therefore, the sets of belts 26 and 29 derive their power for thisoperation from the stitching drum 3| which is grooved to take the belts29. r

Thus the rolls of tissue material 25 are rotated in centerless supportin the valleys on belts 26 and 29 and the web 50'is fed over the belts29 to the stitching mechanism as will be apparent from the abovedescription. After it has been marginally stitched the web 50- from eachof the units A, B, etc. passes around and under the weblaying roll 5|for delivery onto the polished tray which will now be described ingreater detail.

Each of the frames 38 is provided with a rodlike tray support 85 whichspans the frame 38 under the stitching drum 3|. This tray supportextends through the tubular terminals 86 of the tray 52 onto which theparticular unit A or B served by frame 38 feeds its web 50. This traythen extends between the legs 36 and 38 of each of the units B to thepoint of delivery of the webs 50 as they are brought upwardly undertension between the'last units B and the unit C as shown in Fig. 1. Itwill be noted that each of the trays is bent upwardly at 81 and that thelower-most tray is the longest. Each successive tray in an upwarddirection is shorter and slightly differently curved so as to facilitatedelivery of the respective webs as will be clear upon an examination ofthe drawings. These trays as mentioned before are of polished stainlesssteel and the webs 50 glide with exceedingly small friction over theirsurfaces. Since the side plates 40 are adjustable laterally according tothe length of the spacer mountings 42, 43, 44 and 45, and since thestitching rolls with their respective collars 63 and 64 are adjustableupon shaft 60 it will be apparent that my Web feeding and stitchingunits A, B, etc., are adapted to take, stitch and feed a web of anydesired width within maximum capacity of these units as prescribed bythe length of shaft 60.

Continuing with the assumption that there are sufficient units A and Bto supply five webs 50, all the five webs will form a multi-ply belt 88entering unit C over a cutting machine entry roll 90 so that thesuperimposed Webs in belts 85 may enter the throat 9I defined by anupper and lower chain conveyor which is associated with a web severingmechanism. The lower conveyor consists of two side chains 92 and 93supported and guided over front sprockets 94 and 95 and over rearsprockets 96 and 91the front sprockets being mounted upon shaft 98 andthe rear sprockets on shaft 99. The chains 92 and 93 are sufiicientlyfar apart so that the webs 50 would fall between them, but the chainsare provided with pairs of web-supporting bars I and IOI. The websevering knife as will hereinafter be described is so mounted as tosever the webs along the line midway between these bars I00 and IOI, andI provide these bars in a sufficient number of pairs and so spaced alongthe chains 92 and 93 that a bar IOI may hold a trailing end of a severedweb and bar I00 may hold the leading end of a severed web in conjunctionwith pairs of bars forming part of the upper conveyor.

The upper conveyor has two side chains I and I06 supported and guided onsprockets I01 and I08 at the leading end I09 and H0 at the trailingend-sprockets I01 and I08 being supported upon shaft III, and sprocketsI09 and H0 being supported on shaft II2 as shown most clearly in Figs. 6and 7. The upper chains I05 and I06 are provided with bars H3 and H4 inpairs spaced identically with the spacing of the bars I00 and IN on thelower conveyor chains.

The bars II 3 and I I4 are not identical. The leading bar, H3, in eachpair as shown in Fig. 14 is secured firmly to chains I05 and I06 bymeans of chain links II5 which have outstanding ears II6 to which rivetsII'I firmly hold the bar II3. Conventional chain links without ears, andblocks II8 connected pivotally between the links II5 complete the chainassembly. However, the trailing bar I I4 in each pair of bars of theupper chain is thinner and longer than bar II3. It is loosely mounted onrivet II! but is thrust downwardly positively by a rail I20 at eitherend of the bar. Bars II3 are not sufiiciently long to underlie rails I20and therefore they bear against their opposing rails IOI only bygravity.

Throughout the stretch of the lower conveyor where it is important thatthe rails I I4 and I00 be pressed firmly toward each other with web 50therebetween, I provide rails I2I which underlie the upper portion ofthe lower chain conveyor 92-93.

It is thus important that the bars of the upper conveyor and the lowerconveyor in the unit C be accurately positioned with respect to eachother since bar I0 I must'accurately underlie bar I I3 and bar I00 mustaccurately underlie bar II 4 as will be apparent from the followingdescription of the web severing mechanism.

The many plies of tissue making up the respective webs, and the fivewebs which enter the unit C, constitute the belt as above defined. Thisbelt 88 through unit 0 passes over shearing roll I25 and under shearingroll I26 which are spaced apart as shown in Fig. '7. They are gearedtogether by gears I21 and I28. Gear I2'I is meshed withgear I29 on shaftI30, and a fly-Wheel I3I upon this same shaft assures a steady rotationof the two rolls I25 and I26. Mounted in each of the rolls I25 and I26is a cut-off blade I32-I39 and the timing of the gears and rolls I25-I29is 'such that the two blades are fed in between pairs of bars as theyadvance in their respective conveyors. The cut-oif blades come intocoincidence with their edges positioned to pinch off the belt 88 byextreme pressure. In thus cutting" the belt 88 the many layers of tissueare in effect, pressure welded, so that in the remaining movement of thesevered portions of the belt 88 there is no tendency for individuallayers of tissue to separate from the layers with which they have beenbonded.

The severing and bonding operation having been completed as abovedescribed, the belt 88 takes the form of a succession of individualcellulose pads I35, each having a leading edge and a trailing edge withthe leading edge firmly held by bars I00--I I3 and the trailing edgebeing less firmly held by bars IOI-I I 4.

It will be noted in Fig. 7 that immediately beyond the belt severingmechanism the lower conveyor terminates at sprockets 96-91. At thispoint each individual pad I35 is picked off of the lower bars I00, IOIby a pair of fixed fingers I36, I31. These fingers are bluntly pointedand are so set longitudinally with reference to the general path ofprogress of the severed pads I35 that they are inserted in notchesI38-I39 in the bars I00IOI. Thus as the chains and bars of the lowerconveyor swing around sprockets 96 and 91, the fingers I36--I3I are inposition to support and guide each pad as it is drawn along by the barsI I3I I4 of the upper conveyor chain assembly.

The fingers I 36-I 31 are relatively short and they are followed at thesame level immediately below the lower portion of the upper conveyor bya series of three pairs of pad delivery plates. Those on the right sideas seen in Fig. 16 are numbered I40, I M and I42, and those on the leftare designated I40 MI and I42 These pad delivery plates, as shown inFig. 6, are mounted for lateral withdrawal and replacement so that aseach pad I 35 advances over a delivery table I45 which is beneath thethree sets of plates there is a, continuous double path for the leadingedge of the pad, but the plates are withdrawn in such sequence that thetrailing end of the pad is without support, and means are provided todepress the unsupported-portions of the pad and flip them down to thedelivery table I 45. The mounting and operation of these laterallyretractable and replaceable plates will now be described.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 16 and 20 the path of travel of the padI35 lies under bars H4 and over plates I40 and I40 Each of these platesis mounted upon a plate slide I46 mounted in ways I41. The plate slideI46 for plate I40 has an upstanding bracket I48 and the plate slide forplate I40 has 9. depending bracket I49. These brackets areinterconnected by power link I50, bracket lever I5I, and upper bracketrod I52.

'I'I, l8 and I9.

accuses Bracket lever II is pivoted at I53 so that the plates I40 and MImove equally and oppositely in their respective ways. Each of the setsof retractable and replaceable plates I4I-I II and I42 and I42 has itsown mechanism comprising.

substantially a duplicate of the ways-brackets, links and levers which Ihave just described with respect to plates I40 and I40 To actuate thesesets of plates in the proper sequence I provide a camshaft I55 uponwhich are three cams I56, I51 and I58 of identical contour, as shown inFigs. In conjunction with cam I56 for the actuation of plates I40 and I40 I provide cam follower I60 with its cam roller I6I to bear upon theexternal contoured portion of the cam. Cam follower I60 is guided in camfollower bracket I62 which is so shaped as to provide a recess andabutment for compression spring I63, one end of which bears against acollar I64 fitted to a groove in the cam follower shaft I65, whereby camfollower I60 is urged downwardly against the cam. At the upper end ofcam follower shaft I65 is a link connecting head I66 to which ispivotally connected at I6'I a bell crank operating link I68. Bell crankI69 mounted pivotally at I is thus oscillated so that its pivotalconnection at I'II causes the power link I50 to move the plates I40 andI40 in proper synchronized movement.

As shown in Fig. 7 cam I5! is provided with similar cam followermechanism and similar linkage and bell crank to motivate the properlytimed motion of plates MI and MP, while at I58 the third cam is providedwith similar cam following apparatus with linkage and bell crank for theoperation of plates I42 and I42 When the high contours of the camsthrust the cam followers upwardly the plates which they control areretracted laterally so as to withdraw those particular plates from theirsupporting position beneath a pad advancing under control of the upperconveyor.

As shown in Figs. 8-8a to 13-1311, the sequence of the operations of theplates is clearly set forth. In each of these views the severed pad isshown in dot and dash lines at I35. The leading edge of the pad has abar II3 bearing down upon it, and a trailing edge of the pad has a barII4 bearing upon it, so that the pad is advanced over the plates asabove indicated by reason of the frictional engagement of these barsupon the 'pad. At the point of commencement of the cycle now to bedescribed, the leading edge of the pad I shown in Figs. 8-811 is leavingthe fingers I36 and is sliding over plates I40 and I40 These plates havebeen replaced by the cam mechanism under control of cam I56 and the camis in the position shown in Figs. 16 and 17. At this point in the cycle,plates MI and MI and plates I42 and I42 are fully retracted since thepreceding pad has just been dropped onto the table I45. The next stagein the advance of pad I35 is that shown in Figs. 9-9a wherein the padhas advanced almost to the point where it will overlie plates HI and HilTherefore, this means that shaft I55 has rotated sufliciently with itsrespective cams so that cam I5I actuated the plates I4II M to theposition shown in Figs. 9-9a.

As shown in Figs. 10-100. by the time the leading edge cfpad I35approaches the end of plates I4II4I the plates I40I4I.I are already re-,tracted so that portions of the pad are completely unsupported. PlatesI4II4I remain in position until, as shown in Figs. ll-lla, the leadingedge of the pad passes over onto plates I42I42 to pull the trailing edgeof the pad out of the grip of the bar II4 of the fingers I36-I3'I.

As indicated at Figures 13-130; the final step in the cycle is theactuation of plates I42I42 and by this time the plates IIIIII4II arebeing replaced in position to receive the next succeeding pad; andspring I8I bearing upon the widest area of the pad I35 is all ready toflip the pad downwardly upon the table I45.

In the Figs. 17, 18 and 19 the respective cams are shown in theirrelative positions which they assume at the point of commencement asshown in Figs. 8-80,; they operate clockwise as shown in Figs. 16-19,inclusive as will be understoodfrom the description above.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 16 it will be noted that the table I45 is slotted andthat ejector fingers I are included as a part of an ejector chain I9Imoving under the table. Each of the ejector fingers is shaped like abell crankand pivoted to one of the pivot pins of the chain so that theejector fingers may oscillate under the control of a roller I93.Throughout a part of the cycle of operations of ejector chain I9I, theejector fingers take the position shown in Fig. 16, however, when theroller I93 contacts roller track I94, the finger I90 is caused to takean erect position through the slot in the table, and in this position,to move across the table, at right angles to the path of travel ofconveyors and to eject the pad which has fallen upon the table at theright as shown in Fig. 16.

The power source of the entire mechanism thus far described comprises amotor with a double sprocket upon its shaft. I have not shown this motorsince it is a conventional piece of power equipment. From its doublesprocketed shaft two chains 200 and 20I are connected to shaft 10 andshaft 202, respectively. Shaft 202 extends through a gear housing 203.Within this housing is a set of gears 204-205 for the drive of a shaft206 extending to the front of the case 203 as shown in Fig. '7. Uponthis shaft 206 is a sprocket 201 connected to shearing roll I25 by meansof chain 208 .running over sprocket 209 connected to shearing roll I25.A short chain 2I0 from a companion sprocket next to sprocket 209 onshearing roll I25 extends to sprocket 2 on jack shaft 2 I 2. This jackshaft extends across the unit C and is provided with a spur gear 2I3meshed with spur gear 2I4 on shaft 2I5 which supports and drives thelower conveyor chains 92 and 93. An upper conveyor driving chain 2I6connects a sprocket on shaft 2I2 with sprocket I09 so as to drive theupper conveyor.

The shaft 202 has sprocket 220 connected by chain 22I to sprocket 222 onshaft I55 for the drive of the cams I56, I51 and I58. Shaft 202 also"has a sprocket 223 connected by chain 224 to sprocket 225 on shaft 226,and it is this shaft 226 which is provided with the power sprocket toreceive the raw cellulose tissue stock and to support each of the rollsin centerless cradlelike disposition. The V-shaped arrangement of thebelts 26 and 29 gives rotative support not only for the roll but alsofor the web 50 as it leaves the roll. Relatively little tension isplaced upon the tissue of the web 50. In fact, the only tension upon theweb is placed thereon by the entry roll 90 of the unit C and the upperand lower conveyors of the unit C which are slightly more rapidly driventhan the units A--B. I obtain this ratio of speed of operation by meansof the chain drives for the chains 200--20l (see Fig. 7). The motorwhich drives these chains has sprocket connections to these chains sothat the shaft 202 rotates slightly more rapidly than shaft 10 driven bychain 200.

Thus the multi-ply belt 88 entering over the entry roll 9|] isconstantly under slight tension and when the belt 88 is squeezed betweenthe bars of the upper and lower chain conveyor in the unit C, the padsI35 are under some tension. It will be understood, of course, that thistension is relatively slight, but it is nevertheless a factor inretaining the web in belt-like shape as it passes to the plates Mil-H2.Of course, when the pad is severed the only tension which can remain inthe pad I35 is that which is maintained by the weight of the bar H4 atthe trailing end of the pad.

As indicated above various sizes of raw stock may be handled by mymachine. The spacer mountings 42-45 may be adjusted so that the sideplates 4!] and 4| are in position to take narrower or wider rolls. Alsothe stitchin rolls may be properly spaced by adjusting them upon shaft60 so as to stitch the margins of the particularly selected width of rawstock. This adjustment is facilitated by the particular drive for thestitching rolls whereby belts 68 may frictionally derive their motionfrom any point on the surface of the stitchin drum 3 i.

It will be understood that various lengths of pad may be made byrelocating the bars in the chains 92 and I and by locating the cut-offknives in the two rolls I25 and I26 so as to correspond with theselected bars.

As indicated in the drawings the adjustment of the chains and of thepressure upon the cutoff knives is readily made.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a web feeding machinecomprising laterally spaced rolls mounted at substantially the samelevel and a roll downwardly offset from said level and between adjacentrolls, belts carried by said laterally spaced rolls and said offset rolland together constituting a continuous conveyor including a cradlehaving its bed defined by said downwardly offset roll, a roll laterallyoffset from said cradle constituting a crimping drum, and a crimpingroll having a mounting on which it cooperates with said drum to crimp aweb moving from a roll supported in said cradle between said crimpingdrum and said crimping roll.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said crimping roll is provided withcrimping teeth engageable with the web and with a frictional drivecontact laterally spaced from said teeth whereby to bear directlyagainst said crimping drum to receive motion from the drum.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said crimping drum comprises a driveconnection for said conveyor belts and said crimping roll, said crimpingdrum having surfaces laterally spaced from said 10 moving web, saidcrimping roll having friction contact surfaces equally laterally spacedfrom said moving web and in contact with said drum surfaces.

4. The device of claim 1 further provided with a web laying rolldownwardly offset from said crimping drum, and a glide tray beneath saidweb laying roll to which the web is delivered from said crimping drum.

5. The device of claim 4 further provided with stripping means adjacentsaid crimping roll whereby to strip said web from said crimping rollafter crimping has taken place.

6. In a device of the character described, a series of web feedingmachines each having a web roll cradle, a web feeding conveyorconstituting part of the cradle, and stitching means formarginallybonding the fed material, and means for superposing said marginallybonded Webs to form a composite belt.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said web feeding machines are placedend to end and said means for superposing the respective webs comprisessuperposed spaced glide trays to which the respective webs are fed, saidtrays each having an inlet end at the machine from which it receives itsweb and an outlet end terminating mutually with the outlet ends of theother trays, said outlet ends being open whereby to permit the webs tobe laminated in face to face relationship for the formation of saidbelt.

8. The device of claim 6 in combination with means for severing saidbelt into pads of predetermined length, said means comprising mutuallyspaced conveyors to which the belt is fed, said conveyors having alignedlaterally eictending flights arranged in longitudinally spaced pairs,and severing means mounted in the path of said conveyors whereby tosever said belt between said longitudinally spaced flights, said flightscoinprising means for gripping the severed margins of the belt. 7

9. The device of claim 8 in further combination with severed padejecting means comprising a transverse discharge table downwardlyoffset, from the path of said severed pads and retractible means foralternately supporting and releasing'said pads on said path above saidtable.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said retractible supporting meansconstitute marginal supports comprising individualsuccessivelyretractible support segments spaced in the direction ofconveyor movement whereby portions of the pad may be downwardly ejectedand other portion of the pad supported. 7 V

11. In a pad forming machine comprising a severing means including aconveyor for delivering a severed pad upon a predetermined path, a paddelivery means comprising a transverse delivery table downwardly offsetfrom said conveyor path, conveyor means operating over said transversetable, and means for transferring said pads from said path to saidtable, said transferring means comprising means for alternatelysupporting and releasing said pad on said path above said table, saidmeans being longitudinally segmented and successively operable wherebyportions of said pad are successively supported and released for thenon-uniform transfer of said pad from said path to said table.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said supports are disposed at themargins of said pad, the center portions of the pad being otherwiseunsupported, corresponding opposed segmented supports being movableoutwardly from the center whereby to withdraw marginal support from thepad, and resilient means mounted above said path and over theunsupported portions of the pad whereby to bias said pad downwardly,said resilient means being longitudinally discontinuous whereby downwarddelivery of released portions of the pad occurs non-uniformly.

13. The device of claim 1'1 wherein said-eretractible support means areprovided with actuating mechanism comprising means interconnectinglaterally aligned support segments and means for actuating saidinterconnecting means whereby to simultaneously retract or advance saidlaterally aligned segments, and a common shaft having angularly offsetcams respectively acting upon said actuating means whereby therespective laterally aligned segments function sequentially.

14. A series of successive web feeding machines aligned and connectedfor delivery of a multi-ply belt of fed material, a stitching means foreach said web feeding machine for bonding a margin of the fed materialand a unit at the end of the series of web feeding machines to sever thebelt at spaced intervals whereby to form pads.

15. The machine of claim 14 wherein the unit for severing the belt is acompression severing device whereby to compress and bond the materialalong the line of severance and the pads are thereby marginally bonded.

16. Successive web feeding machines in end to end series relationshipeach provided with a delivery tray extending to the end of the series,

said trays being superposed whereby webs fed thereby are cumulated anddelivered in overlying relationship, to provide a belt of fed material.

1'7. A series of successive web feeding machines each provided with adelivery tray extending to the end of the series, said trays beingsuperposed whereby webs fed thereby are cumulated and delivered inoverlying relationship to provide a belt of fed material, and a unit atsaid end of the series positioned to receive said belt, said unit havingmeans for severing the belt into pads.

18. A web feeding machine including a frame having a multiple ofparallel shafts with a series of pulleys and belts thereabout to providea valley for the reception of a roll of web material, said belts beingmovable whereby to roll the web material in centerless support fordelivery of the web, and a web stitching machine comprising a stitchingdrum positioned to receive the web from the web feeding machine, saiddrum having belts passing over pulleys constituting said web feedingmachine, and a web stitching roll positioned to bear marginally upon theweb against said drum.

19. A web feeding machine including a frame having a multiple ofparallel shafts with a series of pulleys and belts thereabout to providea valley for the reception of a roll of web material, said belts beingmovable whereby to roll the web material in centerless support fordelivery of the web, and a web stitching machine comprising a stitchingdrum positioned to receive the web from the web feeding machine and aweb stitching roll positioned to bear marginally upon the web againstsaid drum, the roll and drum having frictional driving connectionslaterally of said web whereby said drum drives the roll.

. 20. In a web severing-apparatus, opposed conveyors having pairedlaterally extending web end gripping bars to move in registry with theweb therebetween, and a web severing knife mounted to move between thebars and sever the web whereby one bargrips a trailing end andthe otherbar grips a leading end of pads severed from the web.

21. In a web severing apparatus opposed conveyors each having pairs oflaterally extending bars to grip and move a belt like web therebetween,and a knife insertable between the bars of one of said pairs to severthe belt, the bars of said pair providing means for holding the marginsof the belt along each side of the line of severance.

22. In a machine for receiving and severing a belt like web of material,an upper and a lower conveyor, each provided with pairs of web engagingcross bars, the conveyors being mounted for movement in synchronismwhereby the pairs of bars coincide to combine in pressure relationshipand to advance the web between them, each of said pairs demarking a zonealong which the web is severed, and a knife mounted to move into saidzone and into severing contact with said web, the bars providing meansfor holding the margins of the belt along each side of the line ofseverance.

23. In a mechanism for handling lengths of web-material, a surface overwhich said web material is fed, said surface comprising a series ofplate-like supporting elements, a delivery table below said elements,and retraction means connected to one of said plate-like elementswhereby to withdraw it and drop the web upon the delivery table.

24. In the mechanism of claim 23 an arrange- .ment of a multiple of saidelements mounted for successive retraction, said elements being spacedand having therebetween a resilient depressor to force the web towardthe delivery table upon retraction of an adjacent plate-like member.

25. In a mechanism of the character described, opposing plate-likemembers positioned to form spaced marginal supports for a web ofmaterial to be handled and delivered by said mechanism, mounting meansfor said plate-like members interconnected whereby to move the opposedplatelike members outwardly laterally to remove the support of the web,means for severing the web and motivating means for said web severingmeans and said plate connections whereby to remove said support in timedsequence with the severance of said web. 7

26. The mechanism of claim 25 having a series of said plate members, aninterconnection between the motivating connections of the several platemembers whereby to successively withdraw and then replace said membersand a delivery table beneath said plate members.

27. In a web handling mechanism a pair of chain conveyor devicesproviding a throat and a path of travel for said web, each of saidconveyor devices having bar-like elements positioned and connectedthereto whereby to be disposed transversely of said driving means forsaid conveyor devices interconnected to dispose said bar-like elementsapproximately opposite bar-like elements of the other conveyor deviceswhereby to squeeze the web therebetween and advance the web along saidpath, one of said bars being shaped differently from other of said bars,and a rail positioned to contact only said difierently shaped bar tosupply added squeezing pressure against the web.

28. The mechanism of claim 27 wherein the bar-like elements are arrangedin spaced pairs, one bar of each pair so differently shaped.

29. A, web handling and severing mechanism 13 including spaced conveyorchain-like endless elements arranged at either side of a path of travelof said web, bar-like members interconnecting said chain-like elementsand arranged in pairs transversely positioned with respect to said pathof travel, said conveyors being juxtaposed whereby with said bars todefine said path of travel, interconnecting power means between saidconveyors whereby to positively position pairs of bars of one conveyoropposite the pairs of bars of another conveyor whereby to squeeze theweb therebetween and advance it along said path, rails positioned alongthe margins of said path in position to bear against certain of saidbars,

the less advanced bar in each pair of bars along said path of travelbeing shaped to bear against a rail, and a web severing device mountedfor movement in timed sequence with said conveyors whereby to sever theweb between the bars of a pair.

30. The mechanism of claim 29 provided with 14 fingers to remove thesevered web from one pair of conveyor bars and direct the severed webupon retractible plate-like supporting members, retractible plate-likesupporting members positioned rearwardly of said fingers, means for retracting said supporting members in timed sequence with said conveyormovement, and a delivery table to receive the severed web uponretraction bf the plate-like elements.

CURT G. JOA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,662,577 Johnson Mar. 13, 19281,771,983 Wandel July 29, 1930 1,882,944 Ross Oct. '18, 1932 2,525,042Minarik Oct. 10, 1950

